The Grail Quest 3 Heretic by Bernard Cornwell

Author:Bernard Cornwell
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9780007149896
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-11-28T14:05:35.666000+00:00

PART TWO

Fugitive

It rained all night. It was a pelting rain driven by a cold wind that snatched the leaves from the oaks and chestnuts and swirled spite fully into the ancient tree that had been broken by lightning and hollowed by time. Thomas and Genevieve tried to shelter in the trunk, flinching once when a burst of thunder sounded in the sky. No lightning showed, but the rain slashed down even more forcefully. It's my fault," Genevieve said.

No. Thomas said.

I hated that priest. she said. I knew I shouldn't shoot, but I remembered all he did to me.“ She buried her face on his shoulder so her voice became muffled and Thomas could hardly hear her. He would stroke me when he wasn't burning me. Stroke me like a child.”

Like a child?"

No. she said bitterly, like a lover. And when he'd hurt me he'd say prayers for me and tell me I was precious to him. I hated him.“ I hated him too. Thomas said, for what he did to you.” He had his arms about her. And I'm glad he's dead. he added, and then reflected that he himself was as good as dead. He had been sent to hell, cut off from salvation.

So what will you do?“ Genevieve asked in the shivering dark. I won't go home.”

So where will you go?"

Stay with you. If you want.“ Thomas thought of saying that she was free to go wherever she wished, but he knew she had entwined her fate in his so he did not try to persuade her to leave him, nor did he want her to leave him. We'll go back to Astarac. he suggested instead. He did not know what good that would do, but he knew he could not just crawl home defeated. Besides, he was damned now. He had nothing to lose and all eternity to gain. And perhaps the Grail would redeem him. Perhaps now that he was doomed, he would find the treasure and it would restore his soul to grace. Sir Guillaume arrived soon after dawn, escorted by a dozen men who Sir Guillaume knew would not betray Thomas. Jake and Sam were among them and both wanted to accompany Thomas, but he refused. Stay with the garrison. he told them, or go back west and find another English fort.” It was not that he did not want company, but he knew it would be difficult enough to feed himself and Genevieve without having two other mouths to worry about. Nor did he have any prospect to offer them except danger, hunger and the certainty of being hunted across southern Gascony. Sir Guillaume had brought two horses, food, cloaks, Genevieve's bow, four sheaves of arrows and a fat purse of coins. But I couldn't get your father's manuscript,“ he confessed, Robbie took it.” He stole it?" Thomas asked indignantly.

Sir Guillaume shrugged as if the fate of the manuscript was unimportant. Berat's men-​at-​arms have gone,“ he said,” so the road west is safe, and I sent Robbie east this morning to look for livestock.

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